Iberian Empires in the Americas and Settlers in the Colonies (670-675) 2

Edit 0 6 …

Iberian Empires in the Americas and Settlers in the Colonies (670-675)


Iberian Empires in the Americas


Spanish Colonial Administration

  • 2 main centers of power in Americas: Mexico (New Spain) and Peru (New Castile)
  • 1535: Founded Lima, which replaced Cuzco as capital of Peru; transferred government to coast where it was accessible to Spanish shipping
  • Viceroys: Kings representatives in Americas
  • Audiencias: Worked for king to make sure viceroys didn't build too much power


New Cities

  • Built more cities when more migrants came; bureaucratic control

Portuguese Brazil

  • 1494: Spain and Portugal signed Treaty of Tordesillas; divided world along N-S line west of Azores and Cape Verde Islands
    • Spain could claim any land W of line not under Christian rule, Portugal E of line
    • Portugal got Brazil, Spain got rest of western hemisphere
  • Portuguese king gave out land to Portuguese nobles so they would develop the land; Brazil became more important when sugar plantations became more profitable

Colonial American Society

  • Migrants came to cities of Iberian empires that followed European society
  • Others adapted to indigenous way of life


Settler Colonies in North America


Foundation of Colonies

  • Started to establish colonies
  • Life was very difficult, they didn't expect to grow crops and relied on provisions sent from Europe
  • They would often have food shortages and rely on indigenous people or went to extremes to feed themselves

Colonial Government

  • The way of life is more independent compared to South American
  • Colonies had no viceroys or audiencias
  • Instead they had input in the government

Relations with Indigenous Peoples

  • They didn't have precise territory but migrated between regions
  • Turned forest lands into places to grow and harvest crops
  • The fertile land attracted more migrants
  • Native peoples used the land for hunting, but the migrants tried to legally claim the land
  • Migrants didn't realize that hunting was a way of life for the Native peoples instead of a pastime

Conflict

  • Settlers clashed with Native peoples when they went on their hunting grounds
  • Native people would attack the settlers' communities
  • So the settlers would destroy fields and villages
  • Disease and conflict reduced indigenous population